Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork

This easy 6-ingredient recipe for Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork has that smoky BBQ and sweet cola flavour that makes for a tender, juicy, and flavourful pulled pork.

Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork on rice

Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork

I do believe one could never have enough slow cooker recipes. For instance my Slow Cooker Baked Ziti recipe is one of my favourites. This one for Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork is also a must-try indeed.

Quite possibly the best pulled pork you’ve ever had, this recipe gives such a tender, juicy, sweet, and smoky meat. With just 6 ingredients, if you include water and salt and pepper, you can make this on the fly as long as you have some BBQ sauce and a can of Cherry Coke on hand.

A plate of food with a fork, with Pulled pork

Why Use Coca-Cola for Pulled Pork?

Cola or pop is often used when making pulled pork, but have you ever wondered why? The reason is because the sugars in soda caramelize while the meat is slow cooking. This gives the pork that sweet flavour.

Then that sweetness combines with the smokiness of the barbecue sauce, and the result is the best pulled pork ever.

A close up of liquid poured into a metal pan, with Pulled pork

I don’t need to list the reasons why I love using the crockpot, the convenience and ease for making an easy recipe is obvious.

It’s handy to use on a summer day when you’re out all day, to those other months of the year when the schedule allows for little time to supervise dinner.

I just love making a great recipe and coming home to that meal already cooked!

Sweet and tangy flavours that just can’t be beat – I love this BBQ Cherry Coke Pulled Pork! It’s the best pulled pork recipe ever.

plate of food, with Pulled pork

How to Make Slow Cooker Cherry Coke Pulled Pork

You’ll need the following simple ingredients to make this easy pulled pork with cola recipe. The full detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

  • pork shoulder roast – or butt roast, pork tenderloin
  • cherry coca-cola
  • salt and black pepper
  • your favorite bbq sauce (I used sweet baby rays bbq sauce)
  • more cherry coka cola, for sauce
  • cornstarch
  • water

To Make: Rinse and pat dry roast. Season with salt and pepper, and place in the crock pot insert. Add the 1 cup of cherry coke into the slow cooker bowl, cover and cook on low heat for approximately 6 – 7 hours, or on high heat for 4 – 5 hours.

When cooking time is complete, with 2 large forks, remove the pork and begin to separate (shred) the meat into strands. When it’s all separated, set aside.

Drain the cooking liquids from the inside of the insert., and discard. In a bowl, mix together the remaining 1 cup of cherry coke, your favorite brand of barbecue sauce, and the cornstarch slurry.

Pour into the slow cooker bowl and add back in the shredded meat. Turn the slow cooker back up to high and let it cook for another ½ hour to an hour. Enjoy! 

A plate of food, with Pulled pork

What kind of pork to use?

I like to use a leaner cut of pork, yet that’s all personal preference. Some like a lot of fat on their cuts of pork. Depending on this, and price, you have some great option. Some are: pork tenderloin, pork loin, boston butt, boneless pork shoulder, boneless pork butt.

Either way, you want a boneless pork roast and the slow cooking will aid in getting that tender pork result.

What to do with pulled pork:

When you make slow cooker coke pulled pork, the day of and leftover pulled pork. It’s one of the easiest meals to make that is also so very versatile.

Amazing on it’s own, you can also make incredible meals and side dishes with it the next day. The best part might just be the different ways you can enjoy the meat as leftovers.

  • in between bread or lettuce wraps to make pork sandwiches with coleslaw.
  • as a topping for nachos, fries or pizza.
  • inside quesadillas.
  • alongside potato salad and burger buns

To Store: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. To re-heat, use the oven or a microwave.

From game day to family dinners, this is the best pulled pork recipe made with soda pop. You’ll want to use a dark soda, so go ahead and use dr. pepper if you’d like!

More Slow Cooker Easy Meals:

If you are looking for more to try, start with my Slow Cooker Apple Pork recipe, it’s just as easy and a whole different kind of delicious. I also have many slow cooker chicken recipes, like this incredible Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala.

This wonderful slow cooker lazy cabbage rolls recipe is simply amazing.

 Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork on a plate
A plate of food, with Pulled pork

Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork

Yield: 10 people
Prep Time: 6 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 6 minutes

This Slow Cooker Cherry Coke BBQ Pulled Pork has that smoky BBQ and sweet flavour for a tender, juicy, and flavourful pork with just 6 ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4 lb pork shoulder (butt) roast
  • 1 cup cherry coke, for cooking process
  • salt and pepper as desired
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce, your favourite, I used Sweet Baby Rays Original
  • 1 cup cherry coke, for sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry roast. Season with salt and pepper, and place in the slow cooker insert
  2. Add the 1 cup of cherry coke into the slow cooker bowl, cover and cook on low for approximately 6 – 7 hours, or high for 4 – 5 . ** see notes below
  3. When cooking time is complete, with 2 large forks, remove the pork and begin to separate (shred) the meat into strands. When it’s all separated, set aside.
  4. Drain the cooking liquids from the inside of the insert. Discard
  5. In a bowl, mix together the remaining 1 cup of cherry coke, the bbq sauce, and the cornstarch slurry
  6. Pour into the slow cooker bowl and add the shredded pork. 
  7. Turn the slow cooker back up to high and let it cook for another ½ hour to an hour. Enjoy! 

Notes

Pork.org suggests to cooking the pork until “tender”, not giving it a specific internal temperature. I usually don’t go by temperature, as by the time that the pork is able to be shredded, it will be fully cooked. However, if you prefer to know temps, then please refer to this site: pork.org/cooking/pork-temperature/

CORNSTARCH SLURRY: Mix together the cornstarch and water, combining well as if you leave it the mixture untouched for a minute or two, the cornstarch settles to the bottom of the bowl. Mix it well just before adding into the sauce mixture to ensure you use all the cornstarch.

#7 – This is an approximate cooking time. All slow cookers heat to different temps at varying rates. My slow cooker only needed a half hour to come to temp and thicken, but yours might be slightly different.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 10 people
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 698Sodium: 2959mgCarbohydrates: 169gFiber: 2gSugar: 137gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

9 Comments

  1. We have never tried to make pulled pork. However this recipe sounds simple and delicious. We will try this one soon.

  2. I’ve used regular Coke before for ribs, but I’ve never thought to try Cherry Coke! I’ll have to try this one! I’ve been teaching my dad the greatness of slow cookers lately as he has had to step up and help more in the kitchen. I think he’d like this one too!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *